Ready to cut, need a schedule please

[Today]

Today at 10:37:46 AM thatismytruck - morning sweets, is the sky falling; it didn't fall here! OMG it finally didn't!

Today at 01:20:53 AM L123 - i've been wondering the same thing, laura....where is cupcake?

Today at 01:18:55 AM helpme123 - Hey wheres cupcake?

Today at 12:05:30 AM Bevoir - Have a great night, buddies!!!

Yesterday at 11:11:34 PM vita64 - Lyrica is similar to Neurontin. If you take it, when you stop, you'll need to taper it.

Yesterday at 10:59:47 PM keryn - You're very welcome Bev x

Yesterday at 10:48:44 PM Bevoir - Keryn, you are AWESOME!!!! I love my chipmunk pic x

Yesterday at 10:42:39 PM helpme123 - Look up Lycria Stero ,I was given that perscribtion for burning w/d , I refused it 

Yesterday at 10:20:21 PM Pamster - stereo, check this board http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=60.0

Yesterday at 10:17:43 PM stereomarlowe - anyone know anything about lyrica?  My doc is asking me to take it before I start my taper....

[drk]

I received some suggestions for not being able to stabilize and cutting soon.

Hi drk,

It has been noted on this site many times that if you haven't stabilized on a dose after 3 to 4 weeks then it is time to make another cut.  Some members have felt better making a cut.  IMO, I would rather cut and feel bad than stay at a dose that causes havoc to our system.  I am wishing you all the very best and the courage to get through this process.

Patty  xo

drk

I agree with stoney. Moving forward guarantees progress vs going up is only a setback and does not guarantee you will feel better . It took me a month to figure out 1mg of klono would not take the place of the higher dose I was use to (1-4 mg daily). As I moved forward the symptoms got better................ slowly.

Also, like TC make sure you discuss everything with your doctor (physical and mental symptoms). You are on a hefty dose and hopefully you know about that seizure issue coming off of benzos.

It doesn't seem like I'm able to stabilize on 5mg of Klonopin. The anxiety is getting to be horrid plus I'm getting several other unpleasant symptoms. So I'd like to start making cuts. I'm horrible with math. Can anyone tailor me a dry cut schedule?

Here's my info:
5mg Klonopin for almost a month (2mg MC15 tablets)
3x a day (2mg morning, 2mg mid-day, 1.5mg night)
I'd like to go slow as possible so a 10% cut every 2 weeks for now until I can down to at least 3mg.

Just a few questions.
Will I need smaller pills?
Do you think it's a good idea to take a leave of absence at work?

I'd really appreciate it, guys.

[Just Breathe]

Just a few questions.
Will I need smaller pills?
Do you think it's a good idea to take a leave of absence at work?

Yes, it would be better to have the lowest dose tabs, which are the .5mg's.

As far as not working, that is up to you. Can not answer that question for you.

Here's my info:
5mg Klonopin for almost a month (2mg MC15 tablets)
3x a day (2mg morning, 2mg mid-day, 1.5mg night)
I'd like to go slow as possible so a 10% cut every 2 weeks for now until I can down to at least 3mg.

From your above dosing schedule, you state you take a total daily dose of 5.5mg's Klonopin. For now, until you can get the smaller dose tabs, you could work on getting your morning dose and then your afternoon dose down to 1.5mg's also. Generally, a 10% reduction per taper cut is what is suggested, nothing is written in stone, tapers are very individual and are not a linear process. A close 10% reduction from where you are currently at w/b .5mg's. You could reduce your AM dose to 1.5mg's, hold for 2 weeks(whatever feels right for you), then the next .5mg cut can be removed from your midday dose and then hold for 2 weeks(again, whatever works for you).

If the above works for you, in 1 month, your doses would be:

1.5mg am  1.5mg midday  1.5mg pm = 4.5mg's total daily dose

From this point, it may be better to have the .5mg pills as you could then remove .25mg's(half a .5mg) or .125mg(1/4 of a .5mg). You need to see how you will feel and listen to your body, it will be your best guide. Do you think you will be able to obtain the smaller mg tabs?

Does that help and/or make sense?

Just Breathe

[drk]

Thanks for the reply

Sorry, I meant to say 2mg, 2mg, 1mg, not 1.5 ( )

Would it be possible for someone to tailor a schedule that I could actually print out (assume I have the .5 tablets)...just to start me out and then I can figure out the rest.
I'm not good with numbers, especially with the mind-fog.

[Just Breathe]

Thanks for the reply

Sorry, I meant to say 2mg, 2mg, 1mg, not 1.5 ( )

Would it be possible for someone to tailor a schedule that I could actually print out (assume I have the .5 tablets)...just to start me out and then I can figure out the rest.
I'm not good with numbers, especially with the mind-fog.

drk-

If you are to assume that you will have the .5mg pills and your current dose is:

2mg am  2mg midday  1mg pm

Then what you can do is remove .25mg from the AM dose, hold for 2 weeks, then remove .25mg from the midday dose, hold for 2 weeks, keep alternating cuts between the AM & midday doses until you reach 1mg am, midday and pm. After that, you can continue to remove .25mg from one of your doses, hold for 2 weeks, then reduce another .25mg from an alternating dose and so on. You can even reduce .125mg(1/4 of a .5mg) as you go lower. Again, your body will be your best guide.

Does that help and make sense?

Just Breathe

[drk]

Yes it does, thank you.

Hopefully my doctor will prescribe me the .5mg pills.

[TC]

Hi Drk,

If I remember correctly from your previous posts on another thread, you were taking up to 8mg of K at one point.  If I am remembering correctly, you have already cut your dose down quite a bit, in a relatively short time, which would lead to some of the things you are describing.  It would not hurt to stabilize a bit longer at 5 mg K before you start to taper.  I know you want to get this stuff over with, but going too fast could be more harmful than helpful.  The key is to start from a spot where you feel stable or it is nearly impossible to stabilize during the rest of your taper.  Just make sure you are ready to start tapering, it is a big decision.  You know we will all be here to support you.

TC

[drk]

Hi Drk,

If I remember correctly from your previous posts on another thread, you were taking up to 8mg of K at one point.  If I am remembering correctly, you have already cut your dose down quite a bit, in a relatively short time, which would lead to some of the things you are describing.  It would not hurt to stabilize a bit longer at 5 mg K before you start to taper.  I know you want to get this stuff over with, but going too fast could be more harmful than helpful.  The key is to start from a spot where you feel stable or it is nearly impossible to stabilize during the rest of your taper.  Just make sure you are ready to start tapering, it is a big decision.  You know we will all be here to support you.

TC

That's something I did consider. I figured maybe my central nervous system was out of whack from that jump and that it would take a while to stabilize on 5mg. Hmmm... any other opinions?

[traycee]

My suggestion is to wait a little bit longer.
When you say not stable, what are you experiencing and how extreme?
I am not tying to be condescending in any way.
I am just suggestion that maybe each day you are a little better and a little bit more time will help you feel even better.
My other recommendation is water titration.  Whatever you decide it is not going to be a walk in the park.  I was able to work the whole first part of my taper....a very high stress job.  Now I am a stay at home mom which is even more difficult in w/d.
If you can continue to work it is the very best distraction.  Ultimately you are the only one that can make that decision.

So, Recap....Hold another 2 weeks to 4 weeks and write symptoms down so you can see they wax and wane.
If you really feel like you are not balancing out at all....then move forward at a comfortable pace.  5-7% is about what I do in two weeks...sometimes more and sometimes less.
Good luck!
Traycee

[drk]

I see a lot of people are having a lot of difficulty tapering off just 1mg of Klonopin. Since I'm at 5mg, are beginning cuts going to be as rough as someone that was on 1mg daily? I just remember someone here saying coming off a high dosage isn't as hard as when you get down to 1mg and small cuts. Does that make sense?

[softtail]

Hi drk,  and to answer your last question, yes many people are able to make larger cuts when dealing with the higher amounts of the benzo's till they get down to the 2 mg, and below amounts.   Of course thats not written in stone, but for example , we recommend a 10% cut every 10 to 14 days.   Well 10% of 5 is .5mg. which would be considered a gigantic cut if you were at 1.5 to 1 mg. of K.   
Like you hear from fellow users, make your cuts and let your body tell you how it feels.   
This is not an easy journey, but on the bright side you are not dealing with a life threatening disease , just a very unpleasant set of symptoms that you get while withdrawing.   You just have to see what your own personal limits are , with the symptoms, and cut when you think you can handle them.   
As for working,   I did for awhile till I broke down with uncontrollable crying fits, and had to go out.   That too is a personal choice, and depends on the symptoms that hit you .   Either way many of us have been thru what you are experiencing and will help get you thru this.  Just need to be patient as hard as that sounds .
st